Apparatus for cracking nuts



J. F. KIDDv APPARATUS FOR CRACKING NUTS Filed Sept. 15, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet l Dec.22,1936.

Dec. 22, 1936. J. F. KIDD APPARATUS FOR CRACKING NUTS Filed Sept. 15,1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Dec. 22, 1936. J, F K|DD 2,065,376

APPARATUS FOR CRACKING NUTS Filed Sept. 15, 19.34 5 Sheets-Sheet -3 Dec;22, 1936. J. F. KVIDD 2,065,376

APPARATUS'FOR CRACKING NUTS Filed Sept. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4dumm/cfu Dec. `22, 1936. J. F. KIDD 2,065,376

APPARATUS FOR CRACKING NUTS Filed Sept. l5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @f 3mwyjm Patented Dec. 22, 1935 @NEED STA'EES PATENT @FMQE APPARATUS FOR,CRACKING NUTS Jerome F. Kidd, East St. Louis, Ill., assigner to U. N. C.Corporation, East St. Louis, lill., a corporation of illinoisApplication September 15, 1934, Serial No. 744,238

13 Claims. (Cl. 14d-12) The present invention relates to nut cracking inthe provision of a novel nut cracking machine devices and moreparticularly to such devices as having all of the rotating parts thereofcarried employed in cracking relatively large quantities on a commondriven shaft supported by a relaof nuts as in the commercial productionof nut tively simple frame construction, also providing meats, nutbutters and like products. support for a prime mover and bins or hoppers5 More specically the present invention relates for the uncracked andcracked nuts. in part to nut cracking machines of the type em- A furtherobject of the present invention is to ploying a rotating disk havingpick up members provide a novel nut cracking machine with a and crackingplungers carried thereon whereby rotating disk member freely mounted ona single the nut to be cracked is picked up by thev former driven shaftand geared thereto through a set of l0 and cracked by the plungers.Machines of this reduction gears whereby the rate of rotation of generaltype have been previously employed, but the disk and the operation ofthe cracking means have been regarded as disadvantageous in that iseasily and positively synchronized. they have utilized somewhat complexdrive sys- Another object of the present invention resides temssusceptible to maladjustment and diliicult in the provision in a nutcracking machine cup l5 to repair in event of breakage. Moreover, no anovel type of rotating disk having a plurality provision has been madefor an automatic adof easily removable pickup iingerS thereonWherejustment of the breaking stroke in accordance by repairs, assemblyand disassembly operations with the size of the individual nuts beingbroken are rendered relatively simple.

and which, as is common knowledge, may vary Afurther object of thepresent invention resides 20 over wide limits. As a result, manualadjustment in the provision in a nut cracking machine of a must berelied upon to adjust the machines to novel closure gate Ol" anni?Supply hODDGl Wherenuts of different sizes or else some nuts will be bythe entrance of pick up members therein withunduly crushed and the meatscommercially out escape of nuts therefrom is assured.

ruined while others may be insurliciently cracked. A still furtherobject of the present invention 25 Moreover, such adjustments must alsobe made resides in the provision in a nut cracking machine for nuts ofdifferent varieties, the shells of which of novel wire basket receivingpockets which are have different characters of resistance. Forindisposed adjacent pick up elements and are stance, the shells of somenuts yield very little adapted to position the nuts to be cracked inunder pressure and only a slight deformation alignment with the crackingmembers whereby 30 effects cracking while other nuts h. ving morecracking of the nuts in a manner to secure the flexible shells, must bedeformed to a considermeats thereof in the most desirable form is abledegree before cracking. Such manual adassured.

justment not only requires experience but occu- Another object of thepresent invention resides pies time during which the machine cannot bein the provision in a nut cracking machine of 35 operated.` novelgripping and cracking members, which are Other disadvantages ofthe priormachines will adapted to be moved into engagement with the becomeapparent as the description of the present nut to be cracked under theaction of novel ininvention proceeds, a primary object of which isdependent gripping and cracking actuators.

to provide a novel nut cracking machine of a Afurther object of thepresent invention resides 40 commercial type which is highly emcient inoperin the provision in a nut cracking machine of the ation, extremelysturdy in construction, easy to `rotating disk type of novel means forcentering operate and repair, and of a construction as to the nutbetween movable gripping and cracking permit ready manufacture at arelatively low members whereby the nut is cracked in a manner cost. bestto extract the meats therefrom. 45

A further object of this invention is to provide A still further objectof the present invention a nut cracking machine of novel constructionresides in providing anovel nut cracking machine which is adaptable toall sizes and species of nuts of the rotating disk type with novel camactuated without the necessity of manual adjustment or means adapted tomove individual nut gripping the changing of parts. This feature is ofrelamembers toward each other until the nut is 50 tively greatimportance since nuts which, for gripped, the cam actuated meansthereafter being former machines must be graded, need not nowineffective to cause further movement of the be graded and may thereforebe purchased at a members until the cracking operation is to be lowerprice. performed.

A further object of the present invention resides Another object of thepresent invention resides 55 in the provision of novel means for lockingthe cam actuated means after the gripping of the nut and prior to thecracking operation.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provisionin a nut cracking machine of novel means for eifecting a synchronizedmovement of nut cracking elements by driven arms to thereby cause thenut cracking elements to be reciprocated toward one another by means ofa quick action thread and to impart a cracking impulse or thrust to thenut gripping elements.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofnovel nut cracking assemblies with means for automatically determiningthe length of time that said assemblies are in contact with theiractuating means to thereby control the length of the cracking stroke.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeans for rendering the cracking mechanism ineffective to impart acracking motion to the cracking elements should the machine fail to pickup a nut, thus preventing possible damage by the forceful contact ofmembers of a set of cracking elements with no nut therebetween.

Still a further object of this invention is the novel combination ofsafety means with a nut cracking machine whereby if a stone or likeobject incapable of being cracked and likely to damage the crackingelements is picked up, the operation of the machine will be haltedbefore an opportunity is afforded for damage.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novelnut cracking machine wherein a thrust as contrasted to a hammer blow orstroke is employed for cracking, resulting in a gradual application ofpressure, properly and automatically regulated and halted at the rightpoint for each size nut, depending upon the length thereof.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in a novelmethod of cracking nuts wherein the nuts to be cracked are first placedunder a predetermined pressure and subsequently subjected to a thrust orgradually increasing pressure of predetermined magnitude Varied inaccordance with the size of the individual nut being cracked.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel nut crackingmachine wherein individual nuts are first subjected to a predeterminedpressure at desired points of application and are subsequently subjectedto thrusts of predetermined magnitude to effect cracking, means beingprovided wheieby the magnitude of the thrust is proportioned to thelength of the nut being cracked.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detaileddescription and the appended claims when read in connection with theattached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along theline 2 2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View through the preferred form ofrotating disk embodied in the present invention showing the detailedassembly of a gripping and cracking plunger and the manner in which thedisk is supported on and driven by a driving shaft.

Figure 4 is a fragmental detail View of the storage hopper and the novelclosure gate preferably employed in the mechanism shown in Figure 1 toillustrate the manner of cooperation therebetween.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of pick-up ngeremployed in connection with the disk of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a preferred form of wire element used toform the novel nut receiving and positioning basket forming a part ofthe present invention.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line '1 1 of Figure3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a plan View of one of the nut locking and crackingmechanisms of the present invention with parts thereof in section inorder to show the cooperation of the parts.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line S--B ofFigure 8 when viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a preferred form of cam followerwhich is adapted to cooperate with the nut gripping and crackingmechanism of Figures 8 and 9 to cause its operation.

Figure 11 is a sectional view through a set of gripping and crackingplungers showing them in the position they assume when gripping a nut.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1l but showing the position of theplungers after they have been forced together to crack a nut.

Figure 13 is a section of preferred modied form of a nut locking andcracking mechanism such as is shown in Figures 8 and 9 with partsthereof in section to more clearly illustrate the cooperation of theparts.

Figure 14 is a side view taken partially in section of the mechanism ofFigure 13.

Figure 15 is a section of a further preferred form of nut locking andcracking mechanism.

Figure 16 is a side view taken partially in section of the device ofFigure 15.

Figure 17 is a section of a further preferred modification of the deviceof Figure 8 wherein the locking means is designed to operate at an angleto the shaft to be locked.

With continued reference to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters are utilized throughout the several iigures to indicate thesame parts and with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, thepreferred embodiment of the present invention as shown comprises asupporting base and frame F, a nut receiving hopper H, an electric motorM, a driving mechanism D, a rotating disk P having pick up fingers Sthereon, gripping and cracking assemblies G, actuating means` A foroperating assemblies G and a hopper R for receiving the cracked nuts.

For a clear understanding of the present invention, a brief descriptionof the operation of the machine will now be given with reference to theabove generic reference characters. The hopper H is filled with nuts andthe motor M is started. The motor M through the driving mechanism Dcauses rotation of the pick up disk P in a counter-clockwise directionwhen viewed from the right of Figure 1. As disk P rotates, fingers Ssuccessively enter hopper H, each removing one nut therefrom. As disk Pcontinues to rotate under influence of the motor M the nuts picked up bythe fingers S fall by gravity into the gripping and cracking assembliesG where they are automatically positioned in the most advantageousmanner for gripping and cracking.

On either side of the disk P an actuator A adapted to cooperate with theassemblies G is positioned. These actuators are positioned in such amanner that after finger S picks up a nut and delivers it to theassemblies G and the disk P is thereafter rotated through approximately120 the actuators contact the outer ends of the gripping assemblies andadvance them into their gripping positions. As soon as the nut isgripped, the advancing movement of the plungers is arrested due to theresistance offered by the nut and further rotation of the disk P withthe assemblies G in contact with the actuators is ineffective to gripthe nut harder since the actuators A recede until a further definitepoint in the cycle of operation is reached. When this point is reached,a member secured to the driving mechanism D locks the actuators Aagainst further movement by assemblies G.

A series of second members carried by the driving mechanism D at thistime comes into contact with extensions on the actuating assemblies Aand rotate the same. A part of the actuator assembly is advanced due tothis rotation and causes a quick and positive advance or thrust of thevgripping and cracking assemblies G and consequent cracking of the nutshell. After the nut is cracked, the wheel P carries the crackingassemblies out of contact with the actuators and deposits the crackednut in the receiving hopper R.

In order to safeguard the'parts of the machine from undue strain andbreakage should a stone or other like particle of foreign matter reachthe cracking assemblies, the overload switch O is adapted to break thecircuit when the actuators A are subjected to excess resistance due tothe presence of such foreign matter. Although an overload switch isdisclosed in the preferred embodiment it is contemplated that anoverload clutch such as a slipping friction clutch might be disposedanywhere in the driving mechanism to prevent the main driving shaft fromcausing actuation of the assemblies A when unusual resistance is offeredthereto. With the above general description in mind the detailedstructure of the parts will now be described.

The base and frame structure F comprises a flat base Ill having groovesII cut therein. The grooves II are adapted to receive upright side wallsI2, I3, I4 and I5. Upright wall I2 is of general rectangular shapeand'forms a closed back for the frame. The side walls I3 and I4 aresubstantially identical in shape and are adapted to lie in abuttingengagement with the rear wall I2 and front wall I5 at each corner. Theupper edges of the walls I3 and Il! are curved as seen in Figure 2 andsupport a two part cover I6 thereon. Cover I6 in the present preferredembodiment comprises a forward convex member I1 held in place adjacentthe upper edge of front wall I5 by cross strip I3 and at its otherextremity by a cross member I9 carried by side walls I3 and Id. Thecover I5 is completed by a concave member ZI which is secured to crossmember I9 and the side walls I3 and I4. If desired, cover I6 may behinged or otherwise secured for easy removal to permit ready access tothe interior of the housing. Likewise, cover I5 may be formed oftransparent material whereby the manner of operation of the Y device maybe readily observed.

The front wall I5 is provided with an opening 22 adjacent the bottomthereof for a purpose toI be presently described. The structure so fardescribed provides a substantially closed housing and while it ispreferable that the parts thereof be made of sheet metal it will bereadily appreciated that wood er other suitable material might be usedwith very few modifications.

The cover Iii stops short of the rear wall I2 and the hopper H isadapted to lit therein. Hopper H comprises upstanding rectangularsecuring strips 23 which are adapted to be secured to the back wall I2and side walls I3 and I4. The securing means for the hopper may assumeany suitable form such as welding, riveting, bolting or the like. Theupper end of concave cover member 2E abuts the outer face of front strip23 and is held in place thereon by an encircling band 24 which isadapted to surround the walls I2, I3 and Ill adjacent the marginal strip23.

The hopper H is completed by converging walls 25, 25, 2l and 2S whichare preferably integral with the strips 23. The converging walls of thehopper H terminate in a rectangular opening 29 which fits within the topof an elongated relatively narrow ychute 3l. Chute 3l is completelyclosed on three sides and is provided on the fourth side with a slottedwall 3?. which faces toward the front of the housing. The wall 2% ofhopper H is likewise slotted at 3S in alignment with the slot in chuteSi for a purpose that will later appear.

As previously pointed out the front wall I5 is provided with an opening22. Opening 22 is adapted to receive a rectangular hopper or drawerdesignated generally by the reference character R. Hopper R in thepreferred embodiment comprises a fiat sheet metal fioor 34, a back wall35, side walls 35 and a front wall 3l which is adapted to overlap thewall Iii at 3d to prevent escape of dust or the like from the housingduring operation of the machine.

The hopper R at the junction of oor 34 and walls 35 and dl is providedwith reinforcing angle bars 39 which run the entire width of therespective joints to provide a strong and serviceable assembly. A set ofhandles il are secured to the front wall 3l by bolts d2 to provide readymeans for sliding hopper R in and out of opening 22 in or-der to removethe cracked nuts deposited therein. If desired antifriction rollers maybe inserted between the oor 365 and base I to provide a more easilyoperable structure, although in the present form such means is notshown.

The rear wall I2 and front wall I5 on the inner sides adjacent the topof hopper R are provided with angle bars [I3 and M respectively. Theangle bars are secured to the walls in any suitable manner such as bywelding, riveting cr the like. The angle 4bars i3 an-d are adapted toreceive a flat plate 55 which is preferably secured thereto at aplurality of points to thereby provide a strong and rigid assembly.Plate I5 is provided with a central aperture 6 which fits snugly aroundthe rear end of chute 3i and is enlarged along the sides and front toprovide ample clearance for the rotating parts of the machine to behereinafter described.

From the above description, it will be clear that a substantially closedhousing is provided that is extremely strong and rigid and that readyaccess may be had to the interior thereof by merely removing the convexcover member Il from its support on cross member I@ and from between thewall I5 and cross member I8 at the front.`

In order to facilitate the removal of the member |1, the hand grips 41may be provi-ded as shown.

M otor and driving mechanism The driving mechanism D and the connectionsto the motor M will now be described. The present invention aims toprovide a nut cracking machine having a self contained power unit. Forthis purpose an electric motor M is preferably provided and secured toplate 45. The motor M is positione-d in the space to the right of thechute 3| as seen in Figure 1. This space is formed by the slopingconstruction of wall 26 of hopper H. In order to prevent motorVibrations from being imparted to the rotating parts land the frame themotor is preferably mounted on a rubber block 48. The motor is supportedas close as possible to the rear wall l2 in order to secure theadvantage of the supporting strength of the angle bar 43 and is providedwith a drive shaft 49 which is coupled to a driven shaft 5| through auniversal 52. Universal 52 is adapted to accommodate the slightmisalignments of the shafts 49 and 5| which may be due to irregularitiesin manufacturing or movements of the motor due to the rubber blockmounting. Shaft 5| extends into a gear box 53 and drives a shaft 55through a worm drive 54.

Shaft 55 is supported at its ends by bearing assemblies which are inturn supported on plate by any well known type of pillow block 51 orlike support. Shaft inwardly from its ends carries cams 58 and arms 59non-rotatably secured thereto as by pins 58 and 59 respectively. Thepurpose of these elements will presently appear. Substantially centrallydisposed on shaft 55 and keyed thereto at 8| is a pinion 62 (Figure 3)which is adapted to engage a gear 83 which is keyed at 84 to a countershaft 65. Shaft 65 is rotatably supported by a bearing carried by an arm68 which is supported from the under side of plate 45 by means of theoffset arm 61 and bolts 88. Arm 68 adjacent shaft 55 is suitablyapertured to permit unobstructed rotation of r shaft 55.

A short sleeve 69 is rotatably supported on shaft 55 by bearings 1|,which may be of any suitable type. One end of sleeve 69 abuts one faceof pinion 6| and at the other end abuts a collar 12 secured to shaft 55as by a pin 13 or the like. The sleeve 89 is adapted to receive a disk14 to be hereinafter described in detail. Disk 14 has a gear wheel 15secured thereto as by bolts 16. Gear 15 is adapted to mesh with pinion11 which is keyed or otherwise secured to countershaft 65 to rotatetherewith. Spacers 18 are provided between gears 63 and 11 and thesupporting arm 68. From the above description, it will be seen that thedisk 14 is rotatably mounted on shaft 55 and is geared thereto by meansof pinion 62, gear 63, pinion 11 and gear 15. It will be appreciatedfrom an inspection of the drawings that the above mentioned gear trainwill cause shaft 55 to drive the disk 14 at a materially reduced speed.In the present preferred embodiment the speed ratio is 6 to l. Thepurpose of this gear reduction will appear' as the description of themachine and the drive mechanism proceeds with respect to the severalfigures of the drawings.

Rotating disk and associated parts The rotating disk 14 is providedaround its periphery with a plurality of notches 19 adapted to receivepick up fingers 8| and gripping assemblies G. Fingers 8| comprise ascoop 82 which extends beyond the periphery of disk 14 and is adapted tofreely pass through a hole 83, provided in the bottom of a chute 3|,into the chute and through the nuts contained therein, picking up onlyone as it passes through opening or slot 33 in hopper 26 and out throughsaid slot. Scoop 82 is provided With a relatively short narrow neckportion 84 (Figure 4) which connects the scoop 82 with a relatively Widesupporting body portion 85. Body 85 is provided along its sides adjacentscoop 82 with upstanding side walls 88 which form in conjunction withthe body 85 a pocket or the like 81. Pocket 81 is preferably of arcuateshape and is disposed in close proximity to a novel receiving pocket, tobe hereinafter described, formed in the gripping and cracking assembliesG. The under side of body member 85 is provided With a pair of lugs orprojections 88 which are adapted to snugly receive a portion of the disk14 therebetween. Lugs 88 and disk 14 are provided with aligned apertureswhich receive bolts 89 for securing fingers 8| to the disk 14.

It will be appreciated that some method of closing the opening 83 inchute 3| will be necessary in order to prevent the uncracked nuts frompassing into the receiving hopper R. In the present embodiment, chute 3|on each side of aperture 83 is provided with blocks 9| (Figure 2) ofwood or any other suitable material which is cut at 92 to the shape ofthe chute 3|. The lower faces 93 of blocks 9| are fiat and receivesupporting hangers 94 thereon. Blocks 9| and hangers 94 are secured tohopper 3| by means of bolts 95 which project through hopper 3|, blocks9|, and hangers 94 and receive nuts 96 thereon. A shaft 91 is rotatablysupported at its ends in hangers 94 and carries a cylinder or drum 98thereon. Drum 98 is adapted to rotate about the axes of shaft 91 and isprovided with a stop pin 99. One side of drum 98 is recessed at |8| andprovides radially extending flat walls |82 and |83 which define an angleof approximately therebetween. The recess |9|, when drum 98 is in itsassembled position, is biased toward the front of the machine by aspring |94 secured at one end to a lug |85 on drum 98, and at its otherend to a lug |86 on hopper 3|. In this biased position, stop pin 99contacts hangers 94 and prevents further rotation of drum 98 and retainsspring |84 under tension. When in this position it will be apparl ent(Figure 2) that the peripheral wall |91 of drum 98 lies over opening 83in hopper 3| and prevents egress of the nuts from the hopper. Inoperation of the machine, as viewed in Figure 2, scoops 82 of fingers 8|contact the wall |82 of drum 98 and cause counterclockwlse rotation ofdrum 98 against the force of spring |84. This rotation continues untilscoop 82 passes into hopper 3| and out of contact with the wall |82. Atthis time there is no force opposing spring |84 and as a consequencedrum 98 is rapidly rotated in a clockwise direction to close opening 83before another nut can pass under scoop 82 into the opening. It willthus be seen that a very simple and effective closure gate is providedfor the hopper 3|.

Notches 19 also receive the gripping and cracking assemblies G which aresecured in operative position upon disk 14 by bolt and nut assemblies|88 which pass through aligned apertures in plate 14 and lugs |89. Lugs|89 are integrally formed on supporting members comprising relativelyarcuate shaped base members ||2 having integrally formed circular ringmembers ||3 at their outer ends. A hollow cylinder ||4 is non-75rotatably and non-slidably secured within each ring I I3 and forms asupport and guide for a reciprocable plunger H5.

Plungers H are provided adjacent their inner ends with enlarged headsIIB which are provided with conical recesses I I1 for receiving a nut tobe cracked. 'Ihe head I I6 is preferably smaller in diameter than themain bore H3 of the cylinder H4. An internal annular shoulder H3 isformed in bore I IB and is adapted to slidably receive head I5. Flatrings I2I provided with centrally disposed apertures |22, and adapted toslidably receive plungers H5 which are positioned in bores IIB. Coilsprings |23 surround plungers H5 and about rings |2I at their inner endsand are received in abutting relation within a recess |24 of a sleeve|25 which is secured to the outer ends of plungers H5 as by pins |26. Itwill be seen from an inspection of Figure 3 that plungers H5 arenormally retained in their extended positions under the influence ofsprings |23.

Plungers H5 are recessed at |21 to accommodate antifriction rollers |28which are adapted to contact with actuators A with aminimum of frictionduring operation of the machine. In order that the plungers H5 willreceive only a reciprocating motion when the actuating mechanismoperates to effect gripping and cracking of the nut, a groove |29 isprovided in sleeve |25 which is adapted to receive a screw I3I threadedthrough the cylinder H4. Screws |3I and grooves |29 cooperate in anobvious manner to constrain the plunger H5 to a reciprocable motion.

As previously pointed out the gripping and cracking assemblies G areprovided with a novel receiving pocket preferably in the form of a wirebasket |35. Basket |35 comprises a plurality of longitudinally disposedspring wires |36 which are adapted to slidably t within a seriesof slots|31 provided in heads H5 of plungers H5. Wires |35 are preferably formedfrom a straight wire which is bent as at |38 into the form of a hook|39. The finished wire |36 as seen in Figure 6 comprises a central bodyportion IIII and hooked end portions |39. Hooked end portions |33 areadapted to reciprocate within slots |31 and cooperate therewith toprevent rotation of the wires |36 during reciprocation of plungers H5.

Baskets |35 are adapted to cooperate with pockets 81 of pick up fingers8| as seen in Figure '1. In this figure, the disk 13 with the attachednger 32 and cooperating basket |35 has reached the point where the nuthas just fallen from pocket 81 into basket |35. Further rotation of disk14 brings the gripping and cracking assemblies G into contact withactuators A and causes plungers I5 to approach the nut in basket |35.

Since the baskets |35 are formed of spaced wires, a nut falling frompocket 81 may be tumbled in basket |35 from the time the nut is receivedtherein until the gripping assemblies have been advanced into contacttherewith, and as a consequence of the tumbling action the nuts arepositioned with their longitudinal axes parallel to the axis of thereciprocating plungers I I5. This action is encouraged by the surfacegrooving of some type of nuts, the grooving tending to align with thewires of the basket as the nut is tumbled. The wire baskets |35furthermore assure the proper positioning of the smaller sized nutssince the wires |33 will retain the smaller nuts in a position to bereceived in the enlarged end of the conical gripping surfaces H1 and dueto the conical shape of the receiving surfaces, the nuts will slide intothe center of the gripping heads I IE as the plungers advance under theinfluence of actuators A. It will, therefore, be evident that the Wirebaskets have several important functions. First, by reason of the largediameter required in the nut receiving chambers to accommodate theVlarger sized nuts, the wires provide a flexible means of bringing thenuts into a central position in line with the center of the plungersockets and spring back to the walls of the chambers when cracking largeround nuts such as English walnuts. When cracking small round nuts, thewires maintain the nuts in a position approximately in a center linewith the center of plunger sockets and 3. In cracking odd shapes of nutssuch as almonds, pecans and Brazil nuts, the arrangement of the wires issuch that the nuts are deposited with their ends approximately in linewith the center line of sockets 2 and 3 thereby contacting the nuts onthe ends which is essential to a proper cracking action.

Actuting mechanism for gripping and cracking assemblies As previouslypointed out, the machine of the pre-sent invention is adaptable to allsizes and kinds of nuts Without the necessity of manual adjustments orchanging of parts. While graded nuts to some extent have eliminated thedisadvantages of prior machines in this respect, it has been found withgraded nuts now obtainable on the market, there are wide variations insizes so that prior machines oftentimes require manual adjustment or achange in parts to accommodate nuts of the same grade. As an example,the following table is submitted for which nuts were selected from asingle grade.

It will be noted that each nut according to its length required adifferent amount of thrust movement to properly crack it without undulybreaking the meat. Former machines have not been practical in thisrespect since manual adjustments for each nut are virtually impossible.Accordingly, it was not until the present invention with its automaticpressure and thrust con trol that the problem in varying nut sizes wassolved.

Passing to a description of the mechanism by which such control ismaintained, the actuating assemblies A are supported on plate i5adjacent the front of the machine and are approximately diametricallydisposed with relation to the point at which the nuts are picked up byfingers 8|. The actuating mechanisms are preferably sup ported on bases|39 which are secured to plate 35 by means of bolts |5I. Bases |49(Figures 8 and 9) comprise fiat relatively broad pillow pieces |52 andupright spaced rectangularly shaped walls |53 having oppositelyextending bosses |53 and |55 formed thereon. Bosses |54 and |55 areprovided with aligned bores |55 and |51 which are adapted to receive themovable parts of the actuating assemblies which will now be described.

An annular stub shaft |59 is rotatably supported in bore |57 and carriesa cam lever |68 having a curved extension or cam 76| which is adapted tocontact the ends of plungers |75 upon this initial contact with theactuators A. Shaft |58 is further provided with a bore |62 into which anextension |63 of a connecter member |64 is preferably fitted or drivento provide a nonrotatable connection. If desired, extension |63 may benon-rotatably secured in bore |62 by means of a. key or other suitablemeans. Connecter |66 is provided with an enlarged portion 65 preferablyprovided with double square threads which are threaded in a bore |66 ofa sleeve |67. Sleeve |67 is slidably received in bores |56 and |57 for apurpose to be hereinafter described, and is threaded or groovedthroughout a portion of its length. An extension |68 integrally formedon connecter 64, is adapted to loosely nt within the portion of bore|66.

The outer end of bore |56 is threaded to receive a closure plug or cap69 having an annular recess |77 therein. A coil spring |72 of slightlygreater strength than springs |23 is positioned within bore |66 ofsleeve |67 and is held under slight compression in abutting relationwith the end of extension |68 and cap |69 by a centrally disposed lug|73 on extension |68 and al central recess |7| in cap |69. Spring |72 isadapted to move the sleeve |67, connecter |54, stub shaft |59 and theassociated lever |66 as a unit to their outermost or normal positionwhere the lever 6E) through cam |6| will be in the path of the ends ofthe plungers ||5 as disk 717 is rotated. As the plungers H5 come intocontact with the cam |6| of lever |68, the plungers ||5 Will be movedinwardly toward the nut against the resistance of springs |23 since thesprings |72 are slightly stronger than springs |23. After the nut iscontacted by heads H5 as shown in Figure 11, lever |66, stub shaft |59,connecter |68 and sleeve |57 are forced back against the resistance ofsprings |72 into bores |56 and |57 of support |49. This movement is dueto the inability of the springs |72 to exert suflcient force to crackthe shell of the nut. This movement of the actuating mechanism continuesuntil plungers ||5 reach the vertical face |73 of lever |68 at whichtime the cam 58 has been rotated suhciently to cause the locking ofsleeve |67 and its associated parts in the position they have attaineddue to the gripping of the nut, and in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

From a consideration of the preceding description, it will be apparentthat the above mentioned position of sleeve |67 and its associated partswill depend entirely upon the size of the nut in the basket |35 sincethe movement of sleeve |67 does not start until plungers ||5 havecontacted the nut. This being true it will be readily perceived that ifa small nut has been picked up by the machine very little movement ofsleeve |67 will take place whereas if a large nut is picked up arelatively great movement of sleeve |67 will result.

Locking of sleeve 67 is effected by the following elements which areslidably disposed between the upright walls |53 of support |49 and areadapted to be moved into contact with the sleeve |67. The lockingassembly comprises a block |76 having an opening |77 in alignment withand of sufcient size to freely surround the outer surface of sleeve |67.The opening |77 is suficiently large to provide an appreciable clearancearound sleeve |67 and is provided with a knurled or threaded portion |78which extends throughout about one-half of its periphery and ispositioned opposite a like knurled or threaded portion on sleeve |67.When the sleeve |67 is being moved longitudinally within bores |56 and|57, block |76 is disposed in approximately concentric relation withrespect to sleeve |67 by a coil spring |79 which is received in a recess|8| in block |76 and abuts a removable closure member |82 which issecured between walls |53 and held in place therein by bolts |83. Memberl 82 is provided with a recess |84 in alignment with recess |8| andcooperates therewith to retain spring |79 which is assembled underslight compression in operative position between walls |53.

Block |76 at the side opposite to that upon which recess |8| is formedis provided with an arm |86 which is preferably integrally secured atthe center of block |76. Arm |86 is provided at its outer end with anantifriction roller |87 secured in the end thereof which is adapted tofollow cam 58 carried by shaft 55. Coil spring |79 is adapted to holdroller |87 in contact with cam 58 as well as to maintain the concentricrelation of sl-eeve |67 and block |76 so long as the low portion of cam58 contacts roller |87. Arm |86 is preferably supported in and guided bya sleeve |88 which is threaded into an apertured supporting member |89which is secured between walls |53 by means of bolts !9|. A lock nut |92is threaded on sleeve |88 and retains the sleeve in adjusted position.The space between walls |53 is completely closed against the entry ofdust and foreign matter by a removable cover |83 which is secured towalls i 53 as by machine screws |84.

The locking mechanism functions in the following manner to lock thesleeve |67 and its associated parts. Assuming that sleeve |67 has beenmoved to its ultimate locking position by lever 6| and plungers |5 dueto the resistance of the nut in basket |35, the high part of cam 58comes into contact with roller |87 and moves arm |86 and block |76inwardly against the force exerted by spring |79 until the threadedportion |78 of block |76 contacts the external threads |96 formed on theouter surface of sleeve |67. The engagement of these threads willprevent further longitudinal movement of sleeve |67 so long as highportion |95 of cam 58 is in engagement with roller |87. As seen fromFigure 9, this engagement will exist throughout approximately ofrotation of shaft 55. During this period the cracking impulse isimparted to plungers ||5 by the following mechanism.

Lever |87 is provided adjacent its lower edge with a relatively ilatextended arm |97 which is provided with a slanting edge |96. Lever orarm 59 secured to shaft 55 is so disposed in predetermined angularrelation with respect to cam 58 that roller |99 will engage the upper atface 28| of extension |97 just after cam 58 has locked sleeve |67. Sincearm 58 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from theright of Figure l by shaft 55, the engagement of roller |99 and face 28|will impart a clockwise rotational movement to lever |6| and connecter|64 and thereby cause a rapid longitudinal movement of the connecter |65within the sleeve |67 due to its threaded engagement with bore |66 ofsleeve |67. This longitudinal movement of lever |6| causes a likemovement of plungers ||5 and consequent cracking of the nut.

Figure 11 of the drawings illustrates the position of plungers |5 afterthe nut has been gripped f of Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings.

and the sleeve |61 locked in cracking position. Figure 12 illustratesthe position of plungers ||5 after the cracking plungers have reachedtheir extreme inner limits. From a comparison of these two figures itwill be apparent that the movement of each plunger ||5 under influenceof threads |95 is relatively small but due to the fact that bothplungers are moved inwardly the same distance under a positive force, asufficient movement to crack the nut is obtained.

As previously pointed out the length of the cracking or thrust strokewill be automatically determined by the size of the nut to be cracked.This operation will be clear from a consi-deration From the precedingdescription and the above mentioned figures of the drawings it will beapparent that the longitudinal movement of lever ISI, shaft |62, andsleeve |61 will determine how much of the face 29| of extension |91 willbe disposed in the path of rollers |99. Since the rotation of lever |5|will depend entirely upon the length of time that rollers |99 contactfaces 20|, it will be seen that due to the slanting face |98 ofextension |91 the rollers will pass off of face 25| sooner if the lever|G| is moved toward support |99 only a short distance than if lever ismoved to a relatively great distance. From a consideration of thevarious views it will be apparent that at no time will the lever ISI begiven more than approximately one-quarter of a turn therefore there willbe no danger of connecter |54 advancing to such an extent that threads|95 will become disengaged. It will be noted that the actual crackingstroke involves a thrust movement as contrasted to a hammer stroke. Theresult is a gradual application of pressure, properly and automaticallyregulated and halted at the right point for each size nut, dependingupon the dimensions thereof. This feature of varying the stroke,pressure or thrust in proportion to the length of the nut has neverbefore been recognized by the workers in this field and has been foundvirtually necessary to obtain the best results even in the case ofgraded nuts having variations in length of only one-sixteenth of aninch.

A coil spring 293 is secured at one end to an arm 204 integrally formedon lever |6| and at its other end at 295 to the angle bar Mi at thefront of the housing which encloses the working parts of the machine.Spring 293 is of the contacting type and functions to return lever |5|toits normal position with respect to sleeve |51 after roller |99 haspassed off of face 29|.

In order that the operating mechanism may not be subjected toundesirable stresses which might cause breakage of a part of the machineif fingers 8| fail to pick up a nut the parts are so proportioned andconstructed that the heads of plungers |5 will be just touching orslightly spaced from each other under such conditions. When plungers H5assume this position, sleeve |61 will be locked in its extreme outerposition by block |19 and the rollers |99 will just miss the face 29| ofextension |91 as seen in Figure 1 so that no cracking impulse willresult from the rotation of arm 59. This safety feature is of primaryimportance since it prevents the undesirable action of one plungerabutting another.

It will be noted that the spring behind the cracking plunger and thesprings behind the cracking nut and curved plate act in unison toestablish the proper preliminary pressure on the nut prior to cracking.Investigation has disclosed that this pressure should not be uniform forevery size nut as has been heretofore contemplated but should be varieddepending on the length of the nut being cracked, a greater preliminarypressure being preferred for the larger nuts.

Modification of the actuator assembly locking mechanism In Figures 13 to17 there is shown a further preferred form of locking mechanism whichoperates in substantially the same manner as that previously described.The present modification makes use of certain of the same parts and suchparts will be designated by the same reference numerals. A slightlymodified base or support 2|9 having upstanding parallel walls 2|| and2|2 is secured to plate 95 by suitable bolts |5|. Walls 2| i and 2|2define a passageway 2|3 which passes diagonally from the outer side ofthe forwardly disposed edge 2|2 of the enlarged body section 2|5 to theinner side of the rearwardly disposed edge ZIE.

Body section 2|5 is provided with bosses |54 and E55 identical inconstruction with bosses |55 and |55 of the previously describedactuator mechanisms. Bosses |59 an-d |55 have aligned bores E56 and |51which slidably receive a solid shaft 2|1 which is cut out at 2| 8adjacent passage 2|3 to a depth approximately equal to onehalf of itsdiameter. The section 2|9 of reduced diameter formed by cut 2|8 embodiesa flat surface 229 which is provided with transverse serrations 22| fora purpose that will presently appear. The ends of passage 2|3 are closedby removable closures |820. and |89ct.

Shaft 2|1 is provided with a recess 223 and threads 221| which areadapted to rotatably receive end |68 and threads |55 of a connecter |94asimilar in construction and operation to that previously described. Theother end of shaft 2|1 is recessed at 225 to receive coil spring |12.From the above description it will be clear that shaft 2li, connecterIlia and spring |12 function in exactly the same manner as members |69,|51 and |12 of Figures l to 12.

The novel stop mechanism which is adapted to cooperate with shaft 2|1 tolock the same against longitudinal movement when a nut has been grippedby plungers |15 comprises a rectangular block 229 having slanting earsor rails 221 which are adapted to slide in guideways 228 formed in walls2|2 of base 2|9. The under surface of block 229 is provided withserrations 229 which are adapted to cooperate with serrations 22| onshaft 2|1 when the block 225 is moved along guides 228 under influenceof a cam 239 carried on shaft I5. The teeth in block 229 are preferablymilled at an angle to the sides of the block corresponding to the angleof travel of the block in the housing as shown in Figure 17 thusbringing the teeth in alignment across the center line of shaft 2 l1 toprovide for a slight end movement of shaft 2|1 eliminating any loosemotion that might occur in the Various parts and movements of thelocking and cracking mechanism.

The passage 2|3 is closed at the top by a cover plate 29| having`downwardly extending guide rails 232 which contact at the sides of anupstanding centrally disposed tongue 233 formed on the top of block 229.Plate 23| is secured to walls 2|| and 2|2 by suitable bolts |94. Closuremember 189m is apertured at 235i to screw threadedly receive sleeve |89in a manner previously described with reference to the rst preferredlocking mechanism. Sleeve 38 slidably receives arm |86 which abuts block22S` at one end and cam 23@ at the other end. Block 225 is held incontact with the arm |35 and the latter in contact with cam 233 byspring Vid in a manner previously described.

In the present modification, as the cam 230 rotates, the arm |85 andblock 226 will be moved from the position shown in Figures 13 and 14 tothe position shown in Figures 15 and 16 against the resistance offeredby spring lle. As this movement occurs, block 22, due to the slopingears 221' and guideways 22S will be moved downwar ly and serrations 22|and 22S will be engaged to prevent further longitudinal movement ofmembers 2|?, |64 and |72. Upon the completion of the cracking stroke themembers and 225 will return to the position shown in Figures 13 and 14under influence of springs |79. It will thus be seen that a furthereffective and simple lock is provided for locking the actuators A. Theremaining operations of the machine are the same as that described inconnection with Figures 1 to l2, inclusive.

The invention may be embodied in other speciiic forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to' be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the s-cope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent isz- 1. A nut cracking machine comprising a driving shaft; adriven shaft; a member mounted on said driven shaft for rotationrelative thereto and having means thereon to convey and grip nuts forcracking; and means interconnecting said driven shaft and said member indriving relation whereby said member rotates at a. lower rate of speedthan said driven shaft.

2. In a nut cracking mechanism, oppositely disposed plungers arranged togrip a nut to be cracked, said plungers having opposed aperturestherein; and flexible members interconnecting said plungers and freelymounted in and extending through said apertures' and arranged toposition said nut for cracking.

3. In a nut cracking mechanism, a hopper arranged to contain a supp-lyof nuts; means associated with said hopper to individually remove nutstherefrom; a plurality of movable plungers carried by said means andarranged to contact nuts for gripping and cracking; means to engage saidplungers to effect gripping of the nuts; means to arrest the action ofsaid last-mentioned means in accordance with the size of the nut to becracked and means to actuate said plungers to effect cracking of saidnuts, said latter means being arranged with reference to said gripactuating means whereby the extent of action of said latter means isdependent on the position of said grip actuating means wherebyindividual nuts of diiering sizes may be cracked in a manner to preservethe kernels in commercial condition.

4. In a nut cracking mechanism, a plurality of gripping and crackingmembers, a series of cams having sloping faces thereon arranged toengage said members; an extension on each of said cams; an actuatorarranged to engage said extension to impart rotation to said cam; andmeans associated with said cams for positioning the same with respect tosaid actuators whereby the period of engagement of the latter with saidextensions is automatically determined by the size of the nut beingcracked.

5. In a nut cracking mechanism, a nut carrying member comprisinggripping and cracking plungers; actuating means for said plungerscomprising cams arranged to follow said plungers in accordance with themovement of said nut carrying member; extensions on said cams; a hollowthreaded sleeve disposed in aligned relation with said extension, saidextension and said sleeve being connected through a quick action screwthread connection; a casing for said sleeve arranged to permit relativelongitudinal movement of said sleeve, extension and cam; resilient meansarranged to resist said movement in one direction; means operable atpredetermined intervals to arrest said movement; and means operablesubsequent to the operation of said last-mentioned means to impartrotational movement to said cam and extension whereby they are advancedto actuate said plungers and crack the nut therein.

6. In a nut cracking machine of the individual pick-up type, a set ofreciprocable and opposed gripping and cracking elements comprising aprotective casing and guide for each of said elements; relatively largegripping heads carried on the inner end of each element; a relativelyenlarged and movable sleeve having an internal recess secured to theouter ends of each element; a resilient member disposed in said recessand abutting said sleeve at one end; means secured to said casing toprovide an abutment for the opposite end of said spring; and means forretaining said sleeve in operative position within said casing.

7. A nut cracking machine comprising oppositely disposed plungersarranged to grip a nut to be cracked, said plungers having opposedapertures therein; and iexible members supported in said opposedapertures and rotatable with said plungers to form a pocket for the nutto be cracked.

8. In a nut cracking mechanism, a source of supply of nuts to becracked; means to selectively remove individual nuts from said source ofsupply; receiving pockets arranged adjacent said means to receive nutstherefrom and position them for cracking; and opposed cracking plungersrotatable with said means and said pockets designed to crack said nuts,said pockets including a false bottom comprising elongated, flexibleelements freely supported by the inner ends of said plungers anddesigned to automatically position a nut in a manner whereby its longestdimensicn is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axes of saidelements, the latter being arranged to yield to permit said nuts to besubstantially centered in relation to the line of application of thecracking force.

9. In a nut cracking mechanism, a hopper to contain a supply of nuts;means associated with said hopper to individually remove nuts therefrom;a plurality of movable plungers carried by said means and arranged toContact nuts for gripping and cracking; means to engage said plungers toeffect gripping of the nuts; means to arrest the action of said lastmentioned means in accordance with the size of the nut to be cracked andmeans to actuate said plungers to effect cracking of said nuts, saidlatter means comprising a quick action screw thread connection arrangedwith respect to said grip actuat- A ing means to cause it to be actuatedin synchronism With said nut removing means and to render the extent ofaction of said latter means dependent on the position of said gripactuating means whereby individual nuts of differing sizes may becracked in a manner to preserve the kernels in commercial condition.

10. A nut cracking machine comp-rising a supply bin; means to select andconvey individual nuts from said supply bin; a rotatable shaft arrangedto operatively support said means for rotation thereover; means carriedby said first mentione'd means to receive and grip said nuts supplied bysaid selecting and conveying means; means to actuate said gripping meansto effect cracking of said nuts; and means carried by said shaft androtatable therewith to operate said actuating means.

11. A nut cracking mechanism comprising a rotary disk, a driving shaft,a driven shaft tosupport said disk, means on said disk to grip a nut tobe cracked, means for causing said gripping means to exert a grippingforce on said nut in accordance with the size thereof as said diskrotates, and means to arrest the gripping force of said last-mentionedmeans at the point of maximum force, said arresting means comprising anextension on the means for controlling the pressure of said grippingmeans, a member for engaging and retaining said extension in fixedrelation and means on said shaft for effecting locking engagement ofsaid extension and said member.

12. A nut cracking machine comprising a driving shaft; a source of powerconnected to said driving shaft; av driven shaft designed to be drivenat substantially the same speed as said driving shaft; a source of nuts;means rotatably mounted on said driven shaft and designed to select andremove individual nuts from said source; means for actuating said lastmentioned means; means for gripping said selected nuts; means foractuating said gripping means to effect a gripping force in accordanceWith the size of the nut selected; means for arresting operation of saidactuating means in accordance with the size of the nut selected; meanson said driven shaft for operating said arresting means; and meanscarried on said driven shaft for engagement with a portion of saidactuating means for imparting a quick thrust to said gripping means of alength determined by the position of said actuating means to cause saidnuts to be cracked.

13. In a nut cracking machine, a set of movl able cracking elements;means for supplying nuts thereto; movable actuating means includingyieldable elements causing initial gripping of said nuts by saidcracking elements disposed in the path of movement of said crackingelements for engagement thereby; and means operable in accordance withthe size of the nut being cracked for regulating the distance throughwhich said actuating means moves after the nut has been gripped.

JEROME F. KIDD.

